Mysuru: The government-run Chamrajendra College of Visual Arts (CAVA) in the city has been running with In-Charge Deans for the last five years. The college lacks basic infrastructure, such as a shortage of lecturers and security personnel, and the government does not release stipends on time.
Amid shortages, the state-run college provides education to students. The government has not appointed a permanent Dean to the college since 2017. For the past five years, all of the Deans have been In-Charge
The present Dean B. R. Poornima is ZP CEO and also holds additional charge of the Commissioner Department of Archaeology and Dean of the college. The college has sixteen lecturers and six readers sanctioned posts. However, only six lecturers are working in place of the sixteen. So far, the government did not appoint readers after their retirement.
Few senior students are taking classes to juniors. Veeranna Arkasali, a regular lecturer in the college, has been appointed as President of Karnataka Shilpakala Academy by the State Government. He has to work at the state level as President but at the same time, he working as a lecturer is a challenge.
Students say that the government should appoint Dean from an educational background. If other officers are appointed, employees who are In-Charge of 2 to 3 departments could not get sufficient time to develop CAVA. “The students also say that the government did not release stipends on time. So, we could not buy learning materials owing to financial problems,” he said.
“The college used to be open till 8.00 pm, but now authorities are closing college by 4.30 daily saying shortage of staff. We could not practice till 8 due to this,” he added.
Few lecturers are working temporarily for the last 10-15 years, and the government did not regularise their services.
The CAVA building was the heart of the city earlier. However, in 2014 it was shifted to another building on Bannur road. Girl students allege that eve-teasers teasing them while going to college from the main road. They demanded to install CCTV cameras on this path.
Followed by complaints, the college management deputed security personnel on this road. Amid all shortages, the college is running, waiting to get facilities from the State Government.
